Fan support



G. H. KocH 2,204,995

FAN SUPPORT Filed sept. 14. 193s,

June 18, 1940.

3 Shasta-Sheet 2 WIT ssl-:sf INVENTOR Gus-FAV H Kocm June 18, 1,940. Y G. H. KocH Y v2,204,995 v l FAN SUPPORT Filed Sept. 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FRC-. 25 wlTN ESSES: l lNvENToR GusTAv H. KQCH BY 5.74%@ i 7%@ Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FAN SUPPORT Pennsylvania Application September 14, 1938, Serial No. 229,813

11 Claims.

My invention relates to a supporting structure for air translating apparatus, and has for an object to provide an improved structure of this kind.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved structure for resiliently supporting a fan, which structure aiords tilting of the fan and motor in a vertical plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient support of the character set forth having provisions for housing the fan control switch.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a structure of improved appearance for adjustably and resiliently supporting a fan and itsv `controlling device, which structure may be economically manufactured.

The and other objects are effectedby my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims takenl in accordance with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a vlew'in perspective of a fan of the pedestal type having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the fan shown in Fig. 1 having a portion thereof shown in section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line III--III or' Fig. 2. v

Reference will now be had to the drawings wherein I have shown my invention applied to an oscillating fan of the pedestal or floor mounting type and including a motor I0, air translating fan blades II drivenl thereby and a supporting column I2 having a base I3.' The motor I0 has a shaft Illa upon which `the fan blades II are mounted. 'I'he motor I0 is tiltably supported in accordance with my invention by a resilient supporting structure, generally indicated by the numeral I4 and carried by the column I2.

The support I4 includes a swivel member I5 having a chamber I6 and a hollow boss I1 formedl therein. A pair of opposed trunnions 'I8 are formed on the exterior of the member I and are seated in spaced rings I9 formed of resilient material such as, for example, rubber. `Support for the rings I9 is provided by spaced saddles 2| preferably formed in the upper end of the column I2. Each of the rings I9 is positioned in its saddle 2| by a pair of arcuate clamps 22, kwhich are pivotally secured to the column I2 by pins 23. The free ends of the clamps 22 are joined by a screw 24 having a nut 25 threaded thereon.

When drawn tightly, the screw 24 moves the clamps 22 toward each other whereby the ring I9 is compressed for gripping its associated trunnion I3 and thereby frictionallypositioning the support I4 and motor I0. Tilting of the motor Ill upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane about the axis of the trunnionsA I8 is effected by loosening the screws 24 for reducing the compression of the rings I9 and, therefore, the friction between the rings I9 and the trunnions I8. Accordingly, the motor and support I4 may be tilted to the desired position, after which the screws 24 are tightened. The direction of the air stream is adjusted vertically by the adjustment just described. It is desirable that the amount of adjustment vertically be limited and this feature is effected by the pins 23 which dene stops as they are engaged by bottom portions of the member I5 in the extreme positions thereof.

The motor III is pivotally carried by the member I5 so that it may be oscillated. A substantially vertical pintle 26 is secured as by welding, to the frame of the motor and is carried by a thrust bearing 21, and a journal bearing `2i! disposed within the hollow boss Il. The thrust bearing 2l is preferably of the anti-friction type, as shown, and is carried by theA member I5 adjacent the top thereof. Movement of the pintle 26 upwardly is prevented by' a screw 29, the end of which is disposed within a groove 3l formed in the pintle 26. y

Control oi' the fan motor I0 is effected by .a switch 32 that is disposed in the chamber I6 as best shown in Fig. 2. The switch 32 may be secured to a cover 33 that closes the chamber I3 and includes an operating chain 34 disposed exteriorly of the chamber I6. The line side of the switch 32 is connected to a conductor 35 that is preferably disposed in the column I2 and led exteriorly thereof in any well understood manner. The load side of the switch is connected to the motor I0 by a flexible conductor 36 that extends through an insulating bushing 31 in the cover 33.`

Oscillation of the fan motor I0 about the axis of the pintle 29 may be effected by any suitable mechanism. As shown, the oscillating mechanism includes a relatively slow speed shaft 38 that carries an internal gear 39 having a crank pin 4I secured therein. A rod 42 connects the crank pin 4I, in accordance with my invention, with a stationary pin 43 carried by an extension 44 of the supporting member I5. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Theslow speed shaft 33 is journaled in a housing 45 secured to the motor I0 in any suitable manner and housed within a casing 48.

Rotation of the gear 35 and shaft 38 is eiected by a pinion 41 having a shaft 48 journaled in the housing 45. A gear 49 meshing with a worm wheel 52 driven by the motor shaft lua, eii'ects rotation of the shaft 48. A clutch mechanism generally indicated at 5i controls rotation cf the shaft 48 so that the fan may be operated either as an oscillating fan or as a non-oscillator, as desired. As the clutching mechanism 5I forms no part of the present invention, it has not been shown or described in detail.

It will be understood that any suitable oscillating mechanism may be employed and that the one shown is disclosed by way of example. The specific oscillating mechanism which I have shown is disclosed more fully and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 234,519 iiled October l2. i928, and assigned to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. As the crank pin 4l is rotated about the axis of the shaft, oscillation of the ian motor il) about the axis of the pintle 26 is eiiected by the connection of the rod t2 with the stationary pin 43, as is well understood.

My improved supporting structure l defines a tiltable resilient support for the ian motor l0 having provisions for housing the control switch 32, which structure may be economically manu iactured and readily assembled. In this connection, it will be noted that by forming the saddles 2i in the column I2 so that they provide a seat for the iiexible rings, machining of a separate casting for this function is eliminated The construction including the resilient rings i9 and their clamps 22 provides a swivel for the fan motor. Forming the swivel member I5 hollow to receive the switch obviates the necessity of otherwise providing a mounting for the switch. Furthermore, the pins 23 for the clamps 2l are so disposed that they provide stops for the member I5. This organization oi elements effects a more pleasing appearance as will be apparent from Fig. l, when compared with structure of this type heretoforev provided.

In operation, vibrations originating in the supported rotating structure are insulated by the resilient rings i9 and are not transmitted to the column I2 or its base, 'whereby more quiet operation is afforded. It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided an improved swivelling support for air translating apparatus having provisions for absorbing vibrations. The support may be economically manufactured and presents a pleasing appearance. While I have shown a relatively large air circulator for oor mounting, it is to be understood that my invention is not so limited and may be applied equally well to smaller fans such as, for example, 0I the desk and bracket type.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In air translating apparatus, the combination of a motor, fan bladesdriven thereby, a pedestal, a swivel member tiltably supported by the pedestal, said member enclosing a chamber, a switch for controlling operation of the motor and enclosed within said chamber, and means pivotally connecting said motor to said member with the motor disposed exteriorly of said member.

2. In a resilient support for a ian motor, the combination of a substantially vertical column having spaced saddles formed in the top thereof, spaced resilient rings carried by the respective saddles, and a member for supporting the fan motor and having opposed trunnions extending laterally into the resilient rings, said member being adapted to support the fan motor with the axis thereof extending transversely of the axis of said resilient rings and said trunnions and being adjustable about the latter axis for tilting the fan motor.

3. In a resilient support for a ventilator including an electric motor and fan blades driven thereby, the combination of a substantially vertical column having spaced saddles formed in the top thereof, spaced resilient rings supported by the respective saddles, a member for supporting the ian motor and including opposed trunnions extending laterally into the resilient rings, said fan motor being pivoted to said member on an axis transverseof the axis of said trunnions, said member having a chamber formed therein, and a switch for controlling operation of the motor disposed within said chamber.

4. In air translating apparatus, the combination of a motor, a fan driven thereby, a member for pivotally supporting the motor, means connected tosaid member for oscillating the motor, opposed trunnions for supporting said member, spaced resilient rings encompassing the trunnions and delninga support therefor, said member and trunnions being tiltable within the rings, and means for compressing the rings so that the member and its trunnions are maintained in a substantially xed position.

5. In a fan, the combination with a motor and fan blades driven thereby, of a member for carrying the motor and pivotally connected thereto, spaced trunnions fixed to the member on an axis transverse to the axis of the pivotal connection, a substantially vertical column having spaced saddles formed thereon, resilient rings carried by the respective saddles and encompassing said trunnions, whereby said member and the motor are tiltable relative the column, and means for compressing the resilient rings for frictionally engaging the trunnions so that the motor and said member are maintained substantially in the position to which they are tilted.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which said member defines a chamber, and a switch disposed in the chamber for controlling the operation of the motor.

'7. In air translating apparatus. the combination of a motor, ian blades driven thereby, a member for pivotally supporting the motor, means for resiliently supporting said member and means for oscillating the motor, said oscillating means being operatively connected to the resiliently supported member.

. 8. In a resilient support for a fan including an electric motor and fan blades driven thereby, the combination of a substantially vertical column, a. member resiliently supported by said column adjacent the upper end thereof, a pivot for the 'motor carried by said member, and means for oscillating the motor about said pivot, said oscillating means being operatively connected to a portion of said member.

9. In air translating apparatus, the combination of a motor, fan blades driven thereby, a member having a chamber formed therein and provided with means for pivotally supporting the motor, means for resiliently supporting said member, means for oscillating the motor about its pivot, said oscillating means being operatively connected to the resiliently supported member, and a switch for controlling the operation oi' the mtor and disposed within said chamber.

10. In air translating apparatus, the combination of a motor, fan blades driven thereby, a substantially vertical column having horizontally spaced saddles formed adjacent the upper end thereof, spaced resilient rings disposed within the respective saddles. a member having opposed trunnions disposed within the resilient rings, a substantially vertical stem for supporting the motor and pivotally carried by said member, and means for oscillating the motor and stem, said y swivel member may be tilted to diilerent positions relative to the supporting member. means for mounting the fan motor on the swivel member to pivot about an axis transverse to the axis o! said trunnions. and a switch for controlling the operation of the motor and enclosed within said chamber.

GUSTAV H. KOCH. 

